Admixtures forSelf Consolidating ConcreteThe Grace Solution

G R A C E C O N S T R U C T I O N P R O D U C T S

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Precast and Prestressed ConcreteProducers

• Eliminate the need for vibration and manualcompaction in hard-to-reach areas withcongested reinforcement

• Improve labor safety and reduce noise levelsduring production

• Improve concrete consolidation throughout highlyreinforced, thin-walled units, and reduce repairs

• Produce the highest quality surface finish, withminimal finishing operations and touch-upsrequired

• Increase flexibility in design and orientation offormwork and improve plant productivity

Concrete Contractors

• Eliminate the need for vibration and manualcompaction in hard-to-reach areas withcongested reinforcement

• Shorten construction times with fasterplacement of vertical and horizontal elements

• Reduce labor and workmanship skill levelrequired to place consistent, high qualityconcrete with excellent surface finish

• Reduce vibration equipment and associated costs

Engineers and Architects

• Allows increased design flexibility by enablinginnovative construction techniques

Owners

• Enables more design choice to develop functionaland cost-effective structures

• Improves durability and reduces maintenance ofconcrete surfaces through improved compactionof cover concrete

SCC may be produced

by wet or dry batch

readymix systems and

pumped into place.

SCC is used to produce precast tunnel

segments without vibration.

Self Consolidating Concrete BenefitsProducers, Contractors, Engineers,Architects and Owners

Fine edge details

and good surface

finish in precast and

prestressed concrete

using SCC.

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SCC flows and compacts

around obstacles and

reinforcement to give

complete consolidation.

Fields of Application

Self Consolidating Concrete is an innovativetechnology that can be used to enable newconstruction techniques and solve constructionproblems in many traditional fields of application:

• Precast and prestressed concrete

• Bridges and civil engineering projects

• Residential and commercial structures

• Pumped concrete

Self Consolidating Concrete Is Differentfrom Flowing Concrete

Today, flowable concrete with 175 to 225 mm(7 to 9 inch) slumps can easily be produced usingconventional mix designs and standard plasticizers.

However, flowable concrete still requires vibrationto ensure complete consolidation within theformwork and around embedded reinforcing steel.

Self Consolidating Concrete Has Unique Advantages

Self Placement —The need for vibration can beeliminated because SCC is highly flowable concretethat will change shape under its own weight toself-level and self-consolidate within formwork.

No Segregation — SCC is a flowable yet highlycohesive material with no segregation and signifi-cantly reduced bleeding.

No Blocking — SCC can pass freely throughnarrow openings and congested reinforcementwithout aggregates “blocking” behind obstruc-tions and stopping the flow of concrete.

Self Consolidating Concrete (SCC) is an advanced approachto the production of highly flowable, self-levelling concretethat can be placed without vibration equipment and withoutsegregation.

Self Consolidating Concrete in

precast production fills formwork

without segregation or blocking.

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The Grace Product RangeGrace offers a range of products for SelfConsolidating Concrete.

ADVA® Series

New generation, high efficiency polycarboxylatesuperplasticizers designed to produce concretewith excellent workability and high early andultimate strengths

V-MAR™ Series

High efficiency, concrete rheology modifyingagents to increase concrete cohesion andresistance to bleeding and segregation

Mix Designs and Raw Material Selection

SCC can be made with standard available rawmaterials, however, in order to achieve the uniquerheological properties of SCC, special attentionmust be paid to mix design process.

Cementitious and filler material contents arenormally higher in SCC than in conventionalconcrete.

Water cement ratios are also low, typically under0.40. Therefore, under practical field conditions,SCC requires a high performance superplasticizer

to achieve and maintain desired workability.

SCC performance requirements may also dictateadditional methods to ensure mix homogeneityand prevent segregation. Various techniques areavailable, including using viscosity modifying

admixtures which effectively increase mix cohesion.

Coarse aggregate content is typically reduced,and gradations are modified to include more fines.

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Self Consolidating Concrete Production

SCC is a high performance concrete material andcareful attention to all elements is a key elementto a successful project.

The increased flow characteristics of SCC mayimpact batching operations, transportation andplacement choices, particularly with regard toformwork.

Grace can offer technical expertise and guidanceon all aspects of SCC, including mix design,batching, placement and testing to ensure consis-tent, predictable performance of all SCC mixes.

Slump Flow Test to measure slump diameter

Self Consolidating Concrete Test Methods

SCC is designed with very high flowability.Standard concrete rheology test methods are not appropriate to measure flow, stability and“blocking” resistance of very high slump concrete.

The “Slump Flow Test” has been developed for usein SCC to measure slump flow diameter and flowrate over time. SCC slump flow typically reachesa spread diameter of between 600 and 800 mm(24 to 32 inch) on a specially marked board.

Additional test methods such as the “L box”, “U box”,“J-ring” and “V-funnel” tests are also available.

For more information and assistance, pleasecontact your local Grace representative.

L Box Test to measure flow and

blocking resistance of mix

GA D M I X T U R E S F O R

KEY CONCRETE PRODUCTS LOCATIONS

Visit our web site at: www.graceconstruction.com

W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. 62 Whittemore Avenue Cambridge, MA 02140

ADVA is a registered trademark and V-MAR 3 is a trademark of W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.

We hope the information here will be helpful. It is based on data and knowledge considered to be true and accurate and is offered for the user’sconsideration, investigation and verification, but we do not warrant the results to be obtained. Please read all statements, recommendations andsuggestions in conjunction with our Conditions of Sale which apply to all goods supplied by us. No statement, recommendation or suggestionis intended for any use which would infringe any patent or copyright. W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn., 62 Whittemore Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140.In Canada, Grace Canada Inc., 294 Clements Road West, Ajax, Ontario, Canada L1S 3C6.

These products may be covered by patents pending. © 2003 W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn. Printed in USA 3/03 SCC-002B CCD/GPS/3M

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